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Thanks Jaymo, I’m hopeful of a big run.
Good luck Charlie with Ballybroker, you’ve stuck by him all year, and you’ve got some nice prices.
I always back any French entries in this and have done so again this year. Urgent de whatever pour moi….
Urgent De Gregaine and two other frogs N/R.
I love this race and hope Cheltenham succeed in adding a few more to the calendar once the undersoil work gets approved. I usually get the form all wrong, with Dogora (lucky 4th) the closest I have come.
I’ve pinned my colours to old Any Currency 14/1 e/w this year. He messed about in a couple of early-season runs over regular fences, then ran a stormer for third on ground softer than ideal in January. Though well behind the front two, he was giving lumps to Urgent De Gregaine and 3lbs to Cantlow. His first-past-the-post verdict over Josies Orders in last year’s renewal is just about the best piece of form on offer and there isn’t enough evidence to say he has declined yet. As Risk Of Thunder, Spotthedifference and A New Story have shown, these Cross Country horses are the Dorian Grays of the equine world.
I’ve had some good days with Auvergnat this season but he faces a daunting task here. He was going well before unseating in the handicap version, but was in on very favourable terms that day. He only collected a ‘2nd division’ Cross Country race at Punchestown after that. Though also not one with great win claims, I’d prefer Ballyboker Bridge‘s chance to Auvergnat given the trouble Peter Maher has with getting his horses fit at home. He’ll probably come on hugely for his latest run.
Back on a sound surface, Bless The Wings should also be bang there. He’s not the bravest in a finish though.
Enda Bolger has done a great job of erasing all memories of Paul Webber from Cantlow‘s mind, but he’s short enough for a horse who has had so many physical problems. He has leading form claims but has fallen apart at this time of year a few times and is hardly one to bet the farm on.
I can’t get behind the Cause Of Causes move either. This is a horse who is often seen getting outpaced early and staying-on from the back. His best form is all on a galloping track with nice long straights for him to get rolling. The twisty-turny stop-start Cross Country surely isn’t what he wants. Cause Of Causes has only been able to deliver one big day per year in recent seasons, so I suspect they’re trying to save him for Aintree.
We’re not even going to talk about Colour Squadron. Even Enda Bolger can’t redeem that one.
It looks like they haven’t had a clear run with Quantitativeeasing this year. He has improved appreciably from run-to-run in previous years and is hard to get behind without even a prep over hurdles.
I don’t know if Sausalito Sunrise is an intended runner. I love the horse, but Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson have always been open in saying that he is a “bottom 20%” jumper who they always look to tack wide for a good view of the fences. He looks quite unlikely to take to this.
Third Intention can’t get up the hill, Usuel Smurfer has a great name (Urban Dictionary – you won’t be disappointed) but little chance and Valadom isn’t good enough.
Come on the old boy!
Thank goodness, yet again for NRNB. Have to rely on Any Currency. He so deserves this win.
I’ve added Cause of Causes at 20’s for this. Trainer hinted last night that he may go here, and he won’t be anything near that price on the day if he does.
“One Bobby Wardrope,,,there’s only one Bobby Wardrope,,,One Bobby Wardrope,there’s only one Bobby Wardrope”!
Well done to VTC and others for backing C of C.
Loved Johnny Newsome’s thinly veiled comments on RUK about the way he’s been trained. :lol:Value Is EverythingGreat stuff, Bobby. I hope it keeps up tomorrow and Native River puts the finishing touches to a great meeting on Friday
As usual, I got the Cross Country all wrong!
I didn’t think Cause Of Causes was the type for it at all. He was helped by the race being more strongly-run than many of these Cross Country affairs are but was clearly superior at the line. Grand National backers would have to worry about his ‘once a season’ tendencies, but I suspect this win took less out of him than the Kim Muir or National Hunt Chase did.
Sausalito Sunrise finished lame. I hope he’s going to be alright because he is one of my favourite horses in training.
Well done to VTC and others for backing C of C.
Loved Johnny Newsome’s thinly veiled comments on RUK about the way he’s been trained.
Well done Venture again, especially with that 20-1, what a spot
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